System and method for generating and delivering personalized content

ABSTRACT

A media system configured to select personalized programming for individual users is disclosed. The programming may include content, advertisements, and/or interactive queries, each of which may be selected based on profiles of the users.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/703,285, filed on Feb. 7, 2007 and entitled“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AND DELIVERING PERSONALIZED CONTENT”(to be issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,111,279), which claims priority to andis a continuation of PCT International Application NumberPCT/US2007/001784, filed on Jan. 22, 2007, designating the United Statesof America and published in the English language and entitled “SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR GENERATING AND DELIVERING PERSONALIZED CONTENT,” whichclaims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/761,189, filed on Jan. 23, 2006 and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORDYNAMIC DIGITAL BROADCASTING.” The entire contents of each of theabove-referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The field relates to distribution of media content, advertisements, andinteractive queries related to the media content and the advertisements.

The broadcasting and media industries have remained virtually unchangedsince their birth with regard to how programming content is packaged anddelivered. Until recently, there was little choice but to create asingle program for delivery to a mass audience. Not only did thisapproach fail to satisfy individual desires of the consuming public butit also forced advertisers into paying for generic spots to appeal to abroad audience with little means of understanding the effectiveness ofthe spot.

2. Description of the Related Technology

Media revenue for various media outlets is often generated throughadvertisements, where media content, for example, music, sports, movies,news, entertainment, dialog, commentary, interviews, DJs, and hosts isprovided to a user along with advertisements, for which the advertiserpays the media distributor. Various media distributors, such astelevision, radio, newspaper, magazine, and computer networkprogramming, operate with this business model. The media content isgenerally provided to a large number of users, who have an interest inthe content being provided. The advertisements are packaged with thecontent and the integrated content and advertisements are delivered tothe user. Demographic data, such as age, and income, and the number ofusers which receive the media and advertisements are used by advertisersto determine advertisement value of the media programming and thevarious outlets. Advertisers making decisions about where to spend theirbudget base their decisions on the values of the various mediaprogramming options. Accordingly, in order to attract the mostadvertising revenue, media distributors attempt to provide media contentwhich will attract large numbers of users. In addition, mediadistributors attempt to provide accurate demographic data about thepopulation of users. In order to maximize advertisement value, somemedia distribution systems attempt to provide programming andadvertisements based on preferences of individual users.

Additionally, or alternatively, media distributors may collect revenuefrom users based on user exposure to the media. Many cable televisionsystems provide their customers with pay-per-view services, where acustomer optionally selects to watch a program, and is charged a feebased on the selection. Similarly, network distribution of music oftenuses a fee based model. The user selects music content to download, paysa fee, and downloads the music. Once, downloaded, however, the musicprovider is unaware of the user's use of the music.

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE ASPECTS

The media delivery system of the present invention has several aspects,no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirableattributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed bythe claims which follow, its more prominent features will now bediscussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularlyafter reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of CertainInventive Embodiments” one will understand how the features of thisinvention provide advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a media system.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of media content andadvertisement selection and delivery.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of an interactive mediasystem.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a system overview perspective of one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a media system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is directed to certain specificembodiments of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied ina multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims. Inthis description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like partsare designated with like numerals throughout.

Recent developments in communications, consumer electronics and mediaproduction are now poised to enable the production and delivery of trulypersonalized content tailored to individual preferences as well ascontext sensitive variables such as time and location.

Not only does such a development represent a quantum improvement in theprogramming choices available to consumers, but advertisers will nowhave the power to narrowly target messages to consumers who arepre-qualified and receptive to information and offers for specific goodsand services. Embodiments described here will not only lead to higherconsumer satisfaction but also to a dramatic improvement in theperformance of advertising messages and an associated rise incost-effectiveness for the advertising dollar.

A media system configured to select personalized programming forindividual users is discussed. The programming may include content,advertisements, and/or interactive queries, each of which may beselected based on profiles of the users, the contents, advertisementsand/or queries.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a media system 100. The media system 100has a media delivery system 110 in communication with user devices 120and 125 via communication network 130.

The user devices 120 and 125 can each be any media presentation device.For example, user devices 120 and 125 can each be a personal computer, atelevision, a radio, an mp3 player, a cell phone, a PDA, a CD player,and/or a portable DVD player. The devices 120 and 125 are configured topresent media to a user, and may be considered portable or stationary.The devices 120 and 125 are configured to connect to communicationsnetwork 130. Some user devices 120 and 125 have a memory configured tostore the media to be presented. Some user devices 120 and 125 areconfigured to receive the media and substantially immediately presentthe media. Some user devices 120 and 125 are configured to transmitinformation to the media delivery system 110.

The communication network 130 can be any type of communication network.For example communication network 130 can be wired or wireless, and mayuse any type of communication protocol. For example, the network 130 maybe one or more of the following types of networks: television cable,telephone/Internet, microwave, cellular phone or radio.

The media delivery system 110 has a media delivery module 140, a contentdatabase 150, an advertisement database 160, a user database 170, and insome embodiments media delivery system 110 has a query database 180. Insome embodiments, the media delivery system 110 is configured to receiveinputs from the users.

The user database 170 has user profiles with information related topotential and/or actual users of the media system 100. The informationmay include, for example, user preferences such as, preferences relatedto content (e.g. favorite artists, specific programs, program genres,DJ's, hosts, topics, etc), language (e.g. English, Spanish, German),time of transmission, personal interests (e.g. golf, stock market,religion), product or service interests (e.g. new house, newrefrigerator, carpet cleaning, car maintenance), products currentlyowned by the user (e.g. food, clothing, automobiles, music, etc.), orpersonal economic data (e.g. previous financial transactions, credithistory, banking information, etc). In some embodiments, the informationmay include combinations of preferences. For example, a user may prefera certain genre of music in the morning, prefer financial news and talkin the afternoon, and prefer sports on weekends. Similarly, a user mayprefer to watch football games with English commentators, and to followa continuing education course in his native language.

In some embodiments, the information of the profile is accumulated withactive participation of the user, such as the user filling out aquestionnaire, or by passive participation of the user, such as bymonitoring and recording the activities of the user device 120. Othermechanisms for collecting the information may also be used. Theinformation of the profile may be entered by the user with the userdevice 120, or by another device, such as a computer connected to anetwork. In some embodiments, at least some of the information of theprofile is generated by the media delivery system 110 based on othercollected information.

The content database 150 has information related to programming content.Programming content may, for example, include songs, movies, pictures,interviews, monolog, dialog, audio, video, books, or web-pages. In someembodiments, content database 150 stores the programming content.Additionally, the content may be of a variety of formats. For example,they may be digital, analog, or multi-media data. In some embodiments,content database 150 alternatively or additionally has links toprogramming content. In some embodiments, content database 150 hasprofile data associated with the programming content, such as programgenre, length, date of publication, language, and ratings from users. Insome embodiments, content database 150 has program options, such aswhich host for a talk show, available languages, and national or localnews. The content database 150 may contain unconventionally small,granular portions of media content that, once personal selections aremade, will be aggregated into a conventional media program. For example,the media delivery system 110 might determine that the user would preferto receive a certain advertisement with video clip A, background musicB, and announcer language C followed by query X in language C.

In some embodiments, the information of the content database isaccumulated with active participation of the owner or of a user of thecontent, such as the user filling out a questionnaire or the userinputting an opinion about the content, or by passive participation ofthe user, such as by monitoring and recording the activities of the userdevice 120. Other mechanisms for collecting the information may also beused. The information of the content database may be entered by theowner or a user with a user device 120, or by another device, such asanother computer connected to a network. In some embodiments, at leastsome of the information of the content database is generated by themedia delivery system 110 based on other collected information.

The advertisement database 160 has information related toadvertisements. In some embodiments, advertisement database 160 storesthe advertisements. In some embodiments, advertisement database 160alternatively or additionally has links to advertisements. In someembodiments, advertisement database 160 has a profile for each of theadvertisements, each profile having data associated with the associatedadvertisement, such as product or service type, brand, company, storelocation, store hours of operation. It may also include informationabout what user demographic is best suited to its message or the actualresponse rate being experience by a certain demographic of user. Suchinformation could then influence subsequent placement of thatadvertisement. Advertisers may indicate in their profiles whether theywant to participate in an auction system that places advertisementsbased upon this type of dynamic market feedback.

In some embodiments, the information of the advertisement database 160is accumulated with active participation of the advertiser or of a userof the content, such as the advertiser filling out a questionnaire orthe user inputting an opinion about the advertisement, or by passiveparticipation of the user, such as by monitoring and recording userresponses to a query related to the advertisement. Other mechanisms forcollecting the information may also be used. The information of theadvertisement database may be entered by the advertiser or a user with auser device 120, or by another device, such as another computerconnected to a network. In some embodiments, at least some of theinformation of the advertisement database is generated by the mediadelivery system 110 based on other collected information.

In some embodiments, the media delivery system 110 is configured to beinteractive and may have a query database 180. The queries in the querydatabase 180 may be used with interactive media systems. In suchsystems, the query may be sent to one or more users. Users with userdevices 120 configured to transmit data to the media delivery system 110can respond to the sent queries with input to the media delivery system110. The media delivery system 110 may be configured to respond to theuser input in various ways. This will be further discussed below. Thequery database 180 may comprise queries, which are data to be presentedto the user to which the user may respond. For example, a query may beassociated with an advertisement. A query associated with anadvertisement may include a prompt for a user to request moreinformation, or to purchase the product or service advertised. Otheradvertisement related queries are also possible. Queries may beassociated with the content. For example, a query associated with thecontent may prompt a user to input an opinion related to the content orto the topic of the content. Other content related queries are alsopossible. Some queries may not be specifically related to theadvertisements or to the content. For example, such a query may prompt auser to input traffic conditions at the user's current location. Otherqueries not related to content or to advertisements are possible. Somequeries may be related to both content and to one or moreadvertisements.

The media delivery module 140 is configured to receive information fromthe content database 150, the advertisement database 160, the userdatabase 170, and may be configured to receive information from a querydatabase 180. In some embodiments, the media delivery module 140 may befurther configured to transmit information to any of the contentdatabase 150, the advertisement database 160, the user database 170, andthe query database 180.

The media delivery system 110 is configured to provide a more enjoyableexperience for the users of the system by providing personalizedprogramming components (e.g. content, advertisements and queries). Byselecting the programming components based on the preferences of theuser, the media delivery system 110 provides better service to itscustomers and better value for its advertisers. As a result, the mediadelivery system 110 can generate increased revenue.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of media content andadvertisement selection and delivery using the media system 100 of FIG.1 with a single user with user device 120. Depending on the embodiment,steps may be added, rearranged, combined, or removed without departingfrom the invention.

In step 210 the media delivery system 110 receives a signal from theuser device 120, the signal being generated in response to an actionfrom the user. In some embodiments, the action may be the user turningon the user device 120. In some embodiments, the action may be the userinputting to the user device an indication that the user is requestingthat the signal be transmitted to the media delivery system 110. Inresponse to the signal, the media delivery system 110 is configured toselect media content and one or more advertisements for the user.

Next, in step 220 the media delivery module 140 identifies the userbased on the received signal, and retrieves data for the user from theuser database 170 and or the user device 120. The media delivery module140 also accesses the content database 150. Based at least in part onthe data for the user retrieved from the user database 170 and on thedata accessed from the content database 150, the media delivery module140 selects media content for the user from the content database 150.The selection of the content may be made, for example, based at least inpart on a comparison of data from the user profile from the userdatabase 170 with data associated with the content. For example, theuser profile may have preference data indicating that the user likes tohear traffic information in the morning. Based on the user preferenceand the time of day, the media delivery module 140 may select a mediacontent with traffic information. In some embodiments, the user device120 may communicate a current location to the media delivery module 140,and the media delivery module 140 may select the media content with thetraffic information based also on the current location. In someembodiments, the user selects the content by, for example by choosingfrom a list of currently available content.

Then, in step 230 the media delivery module 140 accesses theadvertisement database 160. Based at least in part on the data for theuser retrieved from the user database 170 and on the data accessed fromthe advertisement database 160, the media delivery module 140 selects anadvertisement for the user from the advertisement database 160. Theselection of the advertisement may be made, for example, based at leastin part on a comparison of data from the user profile from the userdatabase 170 with data associated with one or more advertisements in theadvertisement database 160. For example, the user profile may havepreference data indicating that the user is interested in buying a newcar. Based on the user preference, the media delivery module 140 mayselect an advertisement from a local car dealership. In someembodiments, the delivery module 140 selects the advertisement based atleast in part on the current content. For example, if the currentcontent is a movie with a BMW, the advertisement may be from a BMWdealership. In some embodiments, the delivery module 140 may select theadvertisement based also on the current user location.

Proceeding to step 240 the media delivery module 140 transmits theselected media content and the selected advertisement to the userdevice. Thus the media delivery system 110 is configured to offerpersonalized programming for its users. In some embodiments, the userdevice 120 is configured to transmit a signal each time a user ispresented with a specific content or advertisement. The media deliverysystem 110 may use this information to bill users for use or advertisersfor delivery. Additionally, the system may record the information in theuser database 170, the advertisement database 160 or a separate databasefor the purpose of auditing use or determining patterns. In oneembodiment, the system would provide regular reports to ASCAP for thepurpose of copyright compliance.

In some embodiments, the media delivery module 140 and the user device120 are both configured for interactive communication. This will befurther discussed with reference to FIG. 3.

The method and system of FIGS. 1 and 2 may simultaneously operate for aplurality of users. For example, first and second users with userdevices 120 and 125, respectively, may both initiate signals to betransmitted to the media delivery system 110. In step 210 the mediadelivery system 110 receives both signals. The difference in time atwhich the signals are received is not significant. For example, thesignals may be received simultaneously, substantially simultaneously,minutes apart, or hours apart. Then, in step 220 the media deliverymodule 140 selects media content for each of the first and second usersbased on methodology similar or substantially identical to thatdiscussed above. Next, in step 230 the media delivery module 140 selectsadvertisements for each of the first and second users based onmethodology similar or substantially identical to that discussed above.Proceeding to step 240 the media delivery module 140 transmits the mediacontent and the advertisement selected for the first user to the userdevice 120 of the first user, and transmits the media content and theadvertisement selected for the second user to the user device 125 of thesecond user. The difference in time at which each of the steps 210, 220,230, 240, and optionally 250 occur for each of the first and secondusers is not significant. For example, the step 230 for the first usermay occur substantially simultaneously, minutes before, or hours afterstep 230 for the second user.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of an interactive mediadelivery system. The interactivity improves the system by providinginteractive queries to which the user may respond. The interactivenature of the system allows for dynamic selection of program components,as well as real time interaction with the user. Depending on theembodiment, steps may be added, rearranged, combined, or removed withoutdeparting from the invention.

For simplicity, the description here is directed to use of the methodwith a single user, however, the system can be used simultaneously withany number of users, with each user at an arbitrary step in the method.In step 310, the media delivery module 140 accesses the query database180. Based at least in part on the data for the user retrieved from theuser database 170, the advertisement database 160, and on the dataaccessed from the query database 180, the media delivery module 140selects a query for the user from the query database 180. The selectionof the query may be made, for example, based at least in part on acomparison of data from the user profile from the user database 170 withdata associated with one or more queries in the query database 180. Aquery may alternatively or additionally be selected based at least inpart on information transmitted from the user device 120, such ascurrent location, or on global information, such as time.

In step 320, the media delivery module 140 sends the selected query tothe user device 120. The user device presents the query to the user. Theuser may choose to enter a response to the user device 120, which isconfigured to send the response as input to the media delivery system110. Then, in step 330, the media delivery system 110 receives theinput. In some embodiments where a user does not have a device capableof transmitting a reply, the user would be presented with alternatemeans of sending a reply such as calling a certain phone number orsending an email message.

Proceeding to step 340, the media delivery system 110 performs an actionin response to the input. In some embodiments, the action comprisesrecording data related to the input in the profile of the user. Themedia delivery system 110 may be configured to track inputs for eachuser to better characterize the user. The tracked inputs may be used tocontinuously improve the selection process for at least one of mediacontent, advertisements, and queries to be presented to the user,thereby providing better service to the user and increasing the value ofthe advertisements. The media delivery system 110 may be configured totrack inputs from a plurality of system users in aggregate. For example,an analysis of the aggregate data may find a correlation between userswho prefer to receive financial news before 7 am and those who respondpositively to a query related to an advertisement for a financialmagazine offering a free copy. In some embodiments, the action maycomprise interacting with another system. For example, a query relatedto program content may ask for an opinion related to the content, andthe media delivery system 110 may transmit the responses to a systemdesignated by the creator of the content.

In one scenario, the user device 120 may transmit a current location ofthe user to the media delivery system 110 and the profile of the usermay have preference data indicating that the user likes a particularfast food restaurant. Based at least in part on the user preference, andon the location of the user, the media delivery module 140 may select aquery related to the fast food restaurant. The query may comprise aquestion as to whether the user would like to see a map location of thefast food restaurant. When the user device 120 transmits a properresponse to the media delivery system 110, the media delivery module 140selects and transmits the map location to the user device 120, whichpresents the map location to the user. In some embodiments, a furtherquery may comprise a prompt for the user to make an order. In response,the user may enter an order into the user device 120, which transmitsthe order to the media delivery system 110. The media delivery system110 then transmits the order to the restaurant, which prepares the orderso that it is ready when the user arrives at the restaurant. Theadvertisement database 160 may be configured to provide the user with adiscount for accepting a special offer or create an accounting entry inthe user database 170 which may later be redeemed for products, barteror cash.

In some embodiments, the system has a usage module, configured to trackusage by receiving usage data from a user device. The usage data mayindicate any of a time, a date and a location when contents,advertisements, or queries are presented to the user. In someembodiments, the usage module is configured to receive data frommultiple users over a period of time, and to determine aggregate usagefor at least a portion of the users. A billing module may be configuredto calculate billing information based on the usage data. The billinginformation may be for a user, if the user has a pay-per-usage typearrangement. The billing may also be for an advertiser, which may havean arrangement for billing based on the total number of presentations ofan advertisement. Additionally, the system may build an archive of usagedata for the purpose of data mining to create detailed demographicreports indicating the relative performance of users, advertisements,queries or an aggregation of these factors.

FIGS. 4A is a representation of an example of a profile 400 of a user.In this embodiment, the user has certain content preferences and certainadvertisement preferences. Other preferences may also be included in auser profile, such as query preferences, which relate to userinformation on which query selection can be based. FIG. 4A shows profile400 with preferences related to radio programming. The user profile 400may additionally or alternatively containing preferences related toother media distribution types, such as television, and pod-cast. Theprofile 400 has content preferences related to music, which includes alist of specific songs, artists, and genres which the user enjoys. Somemusic preferences may relate to music information, such as an interviewwith an artist. The profile 400 also has content preferences related tonews, which includes types of news and preferred times for each type.For example, the profile 400 may contain data indicating that the userwould like to have 2 minutes of national news on the hour, and 2 minutesof local news on the half-hour. Additionally or alternatively the usermay prefer to have financial news in the afternoon, and may prefer tohave traffic news when the user device 120 first connects to the mediadelivery system 110. The profile 400 has advertisement preferencesrelated to current purchasing interests of the user, such as wanting tobuy jewelry, and general interests of the user, such as sports andunusual restaurants. The profile 400 may also store information aboutproducts currently owned or used by the user including previous retailor banking transactions.

FIG. 4B is a representation of an example of the media content,advertisements and queries transmitted to the user based at least inpart on the user profile of FIG. 4A. During timeslot t1, in accordancewith the user preference indicating that the user prefers to have atraffic report at start up, a traffic report for his commute route istransmitted to the user device 120. During timeslots t2 a DJ selected bythe user is transmitted, and during t3, a song selected from the user'sown favorites list transmitted. During timeslots t4 and t5 anadvertisement for a Finnish restaurant is transmitted with a queryprompting the user to respond if the user would like a copy of the menuemailed to the user. The user responds to the query, and the mediadelivery system 110 communicates with the advertiser so that the userreceives the restaurant menu via email. During timeslot t6, a song froman artist selected by the user is transmitted. During timeslot t7national news is transmitted in his mother tongue of Korean, inaccordance with the preference that national news be received on thehour. During timeslots t8 and t9 an advertisement for a local jewelrystore and a query prompting the user to respond if the user would liketo receive directions to the store or to have sale information mailed tothe user's home. In this example, the user's profile indicates that heis engaged and in the market for a ring. The user requests both thedirections and the sale information. Accordingly, the media deliverysystem 110 communicates the request for the sale information to theadvertiser. During timeslot t10, the directions are transmitted to theuser device 120. During timeslot t11, a song from the list of musicgenres from the user profile is transmitted. In some embodiments, thecomplexity of program aggregation may warrant the use of multi-trackauthoring and playback platforms such as Apple QuickTime or MicrosoftWindows Media in order to interleave video, audio, music and textaccording to the user preferences.

The example of FIGS. 4A and 4B is an example of the system transmittingand interacting live with the user. In other examples, the mediadelivery system 110 may have an authoring module configured to be usedby an author to select content, advertisements, and optionally queriesoccupying numerous timeslots based on methodologies discussed above, anda packaging module configured to generate a program having the selectedprogramming components. In some embodiments, the media delivery system110 may also have a storage module configured to store the program in alocation accessible by the user for download. Despite not beinggenerated in real time, the downloaded program may contain queries towhich the user may respond. In some embodiments, the user device 120 maybe configured to transmit the user responses to the media deliverysystem 110 during the program presentation. In some embodiments, theuser device 120 may be configured to additionally or alternativelytransmit the responses to the queries at another time. This may beparticularly advantageous for circumstances when the user device 120 isnot connected to the network 130. The user device 120 may present theprogram, including queries, may store the responses, and transmit theresponses to the media delivery system 110 at a later time, when againconnected to the network 130.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a media system 500. The media system 500has a media delivery system 510 in communication with at least one userdevice 520 via communication network 530. User device 520 andcommunication network 530 may be similar to user device 120 andcommunication network 130 of FIG. 1.

Media delivery system 510 has media delivery module 540, user database570 and link database 590. User database 570 may be similar to userdatabase 170 of FIG. 1.

Link database 590 may have similar data as any of content database 150,advertisement database 160, and query database 180 of FIG. 1.Alternatively, link database 590 may not have the data for the userdevice 520 to present to the user, but instead has links to the data.

Media delivery module 540 may function similarly to the function ofmedia delivery module 140 of FIG. 1. However, media delivery module 540may be configured to transmit links for selected content,advertisements, and queries to user device 520.

Content database 550 may be similar to content database 150 of FIG. 1,and is configured to communicate with user device 520 at least todeliver content to user device 520. In some embodiments, contentdatabase 550 is further configured to communicate with media deliverysystem 510. Advertisement database 560 may be similar to advertisementdatabase 160 of FIG. 1, and is configured to communicate with userdevice 520 at least to deliver advertisements to user device 520. Insome embodiments, advertisement database 560 is further configured tocommunicate with media delivery system 510. Query database 550 may besimilar to query database 150 of FIG. 1, and is configured tocommunicate with user device 520 at least to deliver queries to userdevice 520. In some embodiments, query database 580 is furtherconfigured to communicate with media delivery system 510. In someembodiments, the content, advertisements, and/or queries of thecorresponding database may be updated before or after transmission ofthe links from the media delivery system 510 to the user device 520.

User device 520 may be configured to receive links from the mediadelivery system 510 and to retrieve the data for presentation fromlocations indicated by the links. Accordingly, user device 520 isconfigured to communicate with content database 550 throughcommunications network 532, to communicate with advertisement database560 through communications network 534, and to communicate with querydatabase 580 through communications network 536. In some embodiments,two or more of networks 530, 532, 534, and 536 are the same network.

In some embodiments, user device 520 is configured to store mediacontent, advertisements, or queries in a memory. Accordingly, the userdevice 520 may be configured to retrieve media content, advertisements,and/or queries from any of the media delivery system 510, the userdevice memory, the content database 550, the advertisement database 560,and the query database 580.

In some embodiments, the user device 120 or 520 may have a mediaselection module configured to perform selection operations as describedabove with reference to media delivery modules 140 and 540. The userdevice may have a profile module with a profile of one or more users. Insome embodiments, the user device may also have any of a contentdatabase, an advertisement database, and a query database. In someembodiments, the user device has a link database comprising links to anyof contents, advertisements, and queries.

In some embodiments, the media delivery system 110 or 510 may beconfigured to communicate with an authoring module (not shown). Theauthoring module allows an author to easily create personalizedprogramming. The authoring module is configured to allow the user to addor remove content, advertisements and queries to or from the contentdatabase, advertisement database, and query database, respectively. Theauthor may modify profile information of the content, advertisements,and queries. The authoring module is configured to allow the author todefine and modify selection criteria and rules used by the mediadelivery module to select program components. For example, the selectioncriteria for advertisements may be based on values determined for eachadvertisement for each user. The values may be based on weightedcomponents, such that, for example, a strong match in a user's currentbuying interest increases the likelihood that the advertisement isselected more than a strong match in general interests of the user. Insome embodiments, the authoring module may allow the author to receivedata related to user responses to queries or to generate accountingentries for the purpose of compensating the author for user consumptionof the author's work product or associated advertising placements.

The type of data for the content, advertisements, and queries can varygreatly depending one the embodiment. Data may include any type ofdigital file. For example, the data can include: a display program, agame, an entertainment program, a utility program, entertainment data,advertisement data, music data, pictures or a movie. Furthermore, asnon-limiting examples, the data can be in any one of the following dataformats: a template, a static file, a Joint Photographic Experts Group(JPEG) file, a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) file, an animatedGIF, a HypterText Markup Layout page, a .wav file, or a Macromedia flashfile.

Instructions refer to computer-implemented steps for processinginformation in the system. Instructions can be implemented in software,firmware or hardware and include any type of programmed step undertakenby components of the system.

Memory refers to electronic circuitry that allows information, typicallycomputer data, to be stored and retrieved. Memory can refer to externaldevices or systems, for example, disk drives or tape drives. Memory canalso refer to fast semiconductor storage (chips), for example, RandomAccess Memory (RAM) or various forms of Read Only Memory (ROM), whichare directly connected to the processor. Other types of memory includebubble memory and core memory.

As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, each of themodules of the invention may comprise various sub-routines, procedures,definitional statements, and macros. Each of the modules are typicallyseparately compiled and linked into a single executable program.Therefore, the following description of each of the modules is used forconvenience to describe the functionality of the system. Thus, theprocesses that are undergone by each of the modules may be arbitrarilyredistributed to one of the other modules, combined together in a singlemodule, or made available in a shareable dynamic link library. Furthereach of the modules could be implemented in hardware.

Digital music can, for example, include: MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3) file,a RealNetworks streaming file, Microsoft Media streaming file, or a wavefile.

The networks may include any type of electronically connected group ofcomputers including, for instance, the following networks: Internet,Intranet, Local Area Networks (LAN) or Wide Area Networks (WAN). Inaddition, the connectivity to the network may be, for example, remotemodem, Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), Token Ring (IEEE 802.5), Fiber DistributedDatalink Interface (FDDI) or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). Note thatcomputing devices may be desktop, server, portable, hand-held, set-top,or any other desired type of configuration. As used herein, the networkincludes network variations such as the public Internet, a privatenetwork within the Internet, a secure network within the Internet, aprivate network, a public network, a value-added network, an intranet,and the like.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointedout novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments,it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changesin the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which comewithin the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to beembraced within their scope.

1. A media system comprising: a content database comprising mediacontent; a user database comprising a plurality of user profiles; anadvertisement database comprising a plurality of advertisements; and amedia delivery module configured to select, in response to actions fromfirst and second users, first and second media content and first andsecond advertisements for the first and second users, respectively, thefirst and second media content and the first and second advertisementsbeing selected based at least in part on the profiles of the first andsecond users, respectively, the media delivery module being furtherconfigured to deliver the first media content and the firstadvertisement to the first user, and to deliver the second media contentand the second advertisement to the second user.
 2. The system of claim1, wherein the media delivery module is further configured to select thefirst advertisement based at least in part on the first media content.3. The system of claim 1, wherein the advertisement database comprisesan advertisement profile for each of the plurality of advertisements,and the media delivery module is further configured to select the firstadvertisement based at least in part on the profile of the firstadvertisement.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the media deliverymodule is configured to select the first advertisement based at least inpart on profiles of one or more advertisements other than the firstadvertisement.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the content databasefurther comprises a media content profile for each of the mediacontents, and the media content profile comprises attributes of theassociated media content.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the contentdatabase further comprises a media content profile for each of the mediacontents, and the media content profile comprises data related toquantity of presentations of the associated media content.
 7. The systemof claim 1, further comprising a query database comprising a pluralityof queries associated with at least one of one of the plurality ofadvertisements and the media content, wherein the media delivery moduleis further configured to select first and second queries for the firstand second users, respectively, the first and second queries beingselected based at least in .part on the profiles of the first and secondusers, respectively, and wherein the media delivery module is furtherconfigured to deliver the first query to the first user and the secondquery to the second user.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the firstquery is an offer to sell.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the firstquery is an offer for additional information.
 10. The system of claim 7,further comprising a response module configured to store an input fromthe first user, the input being in response to the first query.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the response module is further configured toadd the input to the profile of the first user.
 12. The system of claim10, wherein the system is further configured to communicate with anadvertiser in response to the input.
 13. The system of claim 10, whereinthe response module is further configured to update at least one of anadvertisement profile, a user profile and a media content profile inresponse to the input.
 14. The system of claim 7, wherein at least oneof the first media content, the first advertisement, and the first queryis selected based at least in part on at least one of a physicallocation of the user, a date, and a time.
 15. The system of claim 7,wherein the media delivery module is further configured to select one ormore additional first media contents, one or more additional firstadvertisements, and one or more additional first queries, and togenerate a personalized program configured to be presented to the firstuser, the program comprising the first media content, the one or moreadditional first media contents, the first advertisement, the one ormore additional first advertisements, the first query, and the one ormore additional queries.
 16. The system of claim 1, further comprisingan authoring module configured to allow an author to modify selectioncriteria used by the media delivery module for selecting any of thefirst and second contents and the first and second advertisements. 17.The system of claim 1, further comprising: a usage module configured toreceive usage data from a user device, the usage data indicating any ofa time, a date and a location when either of the first content and thefirst advertisement has been presented to the first user; and anaccounting module configured to calculate billing or payment informationbased on the usage data.
 18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:a usage module configured to receive usage data from one or more users,the usage data indicating aggregate usage for at least a portion of theusers during a period of time; and an accounting module configured tocalculate billing or payment information based on the usage data.
 19. Amedia delivery system comprising: a content database comprising mediacontent; a user database comprising a plurality of user profiles; anadvertisement database comprising a plurality of advertisements; and amedia delivery module configured to, in response to actions from firstand second users, select first and second advertisements for the firstand second users, respectively, the first and second advertisementsbeing selected based at least in part on the profiles of the first andsecond users, respectively, and on the media content to be delivered,the media delivery module being further configured to deliver the mediacontent and the first advertisement to the first user, and to deliverthe media content and the second advertisement to the second user. 20.The system of claim 19, wherein the media delivery module is furtherconfigured to select different media content for the first and secondusers. 21-37. (canceled)